So often, college acts as the catalyst which makes you appreciate the things from back home that you didn’t even realize you would miss. For me, one of those things was a strong connection with my high school teachers. Now attending the University of Connecticut, sitting in large lecture halls in front of a professor who doesn’t even know my name, I miss that closeness with the adults I used to surround myself with in high school. Growing up in a small town, my teachers cared so much about their individual students, working tirelessly to help each achieve their goals, and so often thanklessly.

So I thank you. To every teacher who helped me along the way, you deserve so much praise. Thank you for meeting me after school so I could get extra help on an assignment, and not getting frustrated with me when I didn’t understand something the first, the second, or even third time after having you explain it. It was your encouragement that influenced me to always put my best foot forward, because now I know people in the real world won’t always do that for you, alternatively kicking you to the curb for having a bad attitude. Your patience, kindness, and resilience in your work speaks volumes of your character.

Teaching is a profession which I believe is sorely underappreciated. It is not for everyone. Not only do teachers work long hours in classrooms each day, but their work doesn’t stop after the school bell rings. Between having to grade tests, create lesson plans, and often running clubs for students after school, I don’t know where they find the time to live their own lives. For me personally, there would be no way I could find a way to balance the stress, or avoid being discouraged when dealing with negative, sometimes outright mean, students.

A lot of the time in high school, I was called a teacher’s pet. I was even nominated for that Senior Superlative several times over by my classmates. But to be honest, I wasn’t and am still not bothered by that title. I think so often kids get bogged down by the stress of school, social influences, and just being angsty teenagers that they take it out on teachers who are there without a second thought every day to do their jobs. I encourage everyone to do their best to show respect to their teachers as I did, even though I was consequently labeled for it. But to be honest- I see no fault in treating your teachers like human beings, because they are! There’s nothing wrong with talking to your teachers, asking them about their weekends, being responsible in class, and doing your homework. The world doesn’t revolve around an individual, even though this pattern of thinking seems to be a teenage epidemic.

And a note for students reading this piece- act now! It is important not to forget the people who shaped your education. High school teachers give students the foundation to ask questions, formulate responses, and generate new ideas. Remember to be kind and thankful to those people who have taken such good care of you in school as you aren’t going to be coddled like that anymore once out of high school. Take advantage of your resources. When your teachers give you feedback, utilize it, improve your work. Soon enough in a college setting- your professors don’t have enough time to meet with students on an individual basis- meaning that you get less opportunities to get help on something you don’t understand, and even lesser chances of receiving a good grade.

To all my high school teachers, I hope you read this essay, and smile, as you so often made me smile on days that I didn’t even feel like getting out of bed. Thank you for being role models, heroes, and friends. Most importantly, thank you for developing me into the individual I am today. To other students, take the time to thank these individuals in your life. You will never understand the work they do on a daily basis to help you succeed.